4.1. Hacks #49-58

Amazon took another unconventional step when they started allowing
third parties to sell the same items Amazon sells alongside the
listings in their catalog. What other business has opened up their
billing and inventory systems to anyone and everyone—including
competitors? It may seem counter-intuitive, but
Amazon is getting a small percentage of every sale. With thousands of
transactions, that small percentage adds up quickly.

By using their site to connect both buyers and sellers, Amazon has
enabled many entrepreneurs to sell through the Web without developing
their own billing and marketing infrastructure. Other Amazon
customers are also selling through their site. A box of books in the
closet or a stack of CDs that no longer make it into rotation would
otherwise continue to take up space. Instead, you can list them
through Amazon, find people who are looking for exactly those items,
and make some money.